Group One performer Sacred Satono will be looking to bounce back to form when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to tackle a star-studded line-up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
The five-year-old entire was runner-up behind Grail Seeker in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham last month before finishing ninth in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie three weeks later in inclement conditions.
Grant Cooksley, who trains the son of Satono Aladdin in partnership with Bruce Wallace, has been pleased with the way he has come through that run a fortnight ago, and is hoping he can return to form this weekend.
“He is 100 percent,” Cooksley said. “The run was okay, things just didn’t go right for him at Auckland.”
Sacred Satono will face a stiff ask this weekend against some staunch opposition, including in-form mare Grail Seeker, Group One performer and last start A$3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) victor Bosustow and fellow Australian raider Here To Shock, and gun three-year-old Savaglee.
“It is a good, even field,” Cooksley said. “It should be a good race. He will be able jump from there (barrier eight) with a bit of speed around him, he will be fine.”
The stable will be chasing further Te Rapa riches with Staphanos Queen, who will be vying to take home the lion’s share of the $350,000 purse on offer in the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m).
The four-year-old mare gained a berth in the rich feature with victory at the Hamilton track last week and Cooksley is confident of another bold showing.
“She had a nice run and won well,” Cooksley said. “It’s good money to be racing for, it is a race worth being in. She has got a good draw and should go well.”
Meanwhile, former stablemate So Naïve will continue his racing career in Australia after joining Ciaron Maher’s New South Wales barn.
The three-year-old son of U S Navy Flag was victorious in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) first-up this season at Ruakaka before finishing runner-up to Savaglee in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).
“With the prizemoney in Australia, he was always going there,” Cooksley said. “I am not 100 percent sure what they have got planned.”